epilepsy

ep·i·lep·sy

(ĕp′ə-lĕp′sē)

n.pl.ep·i·lep·sies

Any of various neurological disorders marked by sudden recurring attacks of motor, sensory, or cognitive dysfunction, with or without convulsive seizures or loss of consciousness. Also called seizure disorder.

epilepsy

(ˈɛpɪˌlɛpsɪ)

n

(Pathology) a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by periodic loss of consciousness with or without convulsions. In some cases it is due to brain damage but in others the cause is unknown. See also grand mal, petit mal

[C16: from Late Latin epilēpsia, from Greek, from epilambanein to attack, seize, from lambanein to take]

ep•i•lep•sy

(ˈɛp əˌlɛp si)

n.

a disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention or sleepiness (petit mal) or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness (grand mal).

psychomotor epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy - epilepsy characterized clinically by impairment of consciousness and amnesia for the episode; often involves purposeful movements of the arms and legs and sometimes hallucinations

reflex epilepsy - a form of epilepsy in which attacks are induced by peripheral stimulation

status epilepticus - a condition in which there are continuing attacks of epilepsy without intervals of consciousness; can lead to brain damage and death

tonic epilepsy - epilepsy in which the body is rigid during the seizure

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